Don't Lose Your Joy

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This is not an 0:00:57.520 --> 0:00:58.920 offer to buy your self securities sn or is it 0:00:58.960 --> 0:01:00.000 investment legal or tax fives. 0:01:00.320 --> 0:01:02.240 He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 0:01:02.280 --> 0:01:02.840 his birthday. 0:01:03.160 --> 0:01:05.039 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:04.880 --> 0:01:07.280 But He'll never forget how you invested in his future 0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:08.280 with the uns stapp. 0:01:08.800 --> 0:01:10.480 Wow. Thanks Grandpa. 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.600 The units stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 0:01:13.640 --> 0:01:16.319 friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 0:01:16.360 --> 0:01:18.760 a limited time. Download the uns stap and use the 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:20.840 code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.400 fifty dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.400 iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.319 for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.440 --> 0:01:30.120 UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.120 --> 0:01:34.880 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:01:35.160 --> 0:01:37.959 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:41.360 leave inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:44.440 every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:45.280 ministry going. 0:01:45.680 --> 0:01:57.080 Enjoy the message. 0:01:58.120 --> 0:02:00.760 Oh God bless you. It is all always a joy 0:02:00.800 --> 0:02:02.000 to coming to your homes. 0:02:02.320 --> 0:02:04.640 We love you and we're believing that this year is 0:02:04.680 --> 0:02:06.440 going to be your best year so far, and we 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:07.880 just appreciate you tuning in. 0:02:08.040 --> 0:02:08.960 If you're ever in our. 0:02:08.880 --> 0:02:11.320 Area, I hope you'll stop by and see us. I 0:02:11.320 --> 0:02:14.160 promise you we'll give you a warm welcome. These are 0:02:14.200 --> 0:02:16.280 the finest people in all of Houston right here with 0:02:16.320 --> 0:02:16.760 me today. 0:02:16.840 --> 0:02:18.480 So come on out and be a part of one 0:02:18.480 --> 0:02:21.359 of our services. I like to get started each. 0:02:21.240 --> 0:02:23.240 Week with something kind of funny, so listen to this one. 0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:26.600 A young man once asked God how long a million 0:02:26.680 --> 0:02:29.600 years was to him. God said, a million years to me, 0:02:30.040 --> 0:02:33.000 is just like a single second in your time. Then 0:02:33.040 --> 0:02:35.800 he asked God what a million dollars was like to him. 0:02:36.080 --> 0:02:38.480 God said, a million dollars to me, is just like 0:02:38.520 --> 0:02:41.160 a single penny to you. The young man got his 0:02:41.240 --> 0:02:43.600 courage up and said, God, would you please just give 0:02:43.639 --> 0:02:44.480 me one penny? 0:02:45.880 --> 0:02:50.880 God said, sure, just a second. All right, hold up 0:02:50.919 --> 0:02:52.680 your bibles and say it like you mean it. Are 0:02:52.760 --> 0:02:53.200 you ready? 0:02:53.639 --> 0:02:56.839 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:02:57.440 --> 0:03:00.200 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:03:00.280 --> 0:03:02.840 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:03:02.960 --> 0:03:07.160 talked the word of God. How boldly confess. My mind 0:03:07.280 --> 0:03:10.840 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:03:10.960 --> 0:03:16.240 the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:20.520 ever living seed of the Word of God. I'll never 0:03:20.600 --> 0:03:24.600 be the same, never, never, never, I'll never be the same. 0:03:25.080 --> 0:03:28.960 In Jesus' name, God bless you. You sound great as usual. 0:03:29.600 --> 0:03:32.600 We've been talking about the importance of staying full of 0:03:32.680 --> 0:03:35.160 joy and how we need to learn to laugh and 0:03:35.280 --> 0:03:38.000 have a good sense of humor. I believe that God 0:03:38.040 --> 0:03:39.240 wants us to be the. 0:03:39.240 --> 0:03:40.440 Happiest people around. 0:03:41.000 --> 0:03:43.800 He doesn't want us to drag through life with a long, 0:03:43.960 --> 0:03:48.400 sour face. Always discourage never having any joy. Now, the 0:03:48.440 --> 0:03:51.880 scripture says that God wants us to live life to 0:03:51.960 --> 0:03:56.240 the full till it overflows. That means we not only 0:03:56.280 --> 0:03:59.360 have enough joy for ourselves, but we have so much 0:03:59.480 --> 0:04:03.720 joy it spills over onto other people and everywhere we go. 0:04:04.080 --> 0:04:07.720 We should infect that place with joy. And really that's 0:04:07.760 --> 0:04:10.720 one of the best witnesses that we can have. You 0:04:10.760 --> 0:04:14.040 don't necessarily have to preach a sermon to somebody. You 0:04:14.040 --> 0:04:16.640 don't have to try to cram the scriptures down their throat. 0:04:17.120 --> 0:04:20.200 Just be full of joy, have a smile on your face, 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:21.800 be fun to be around. 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:25.320 When you are consistently happy, when. 0:04:25.200 --> 0:04:27.600 You're in a good mood day in and day out, 0:04:28.120 --> 0:04:31.120 people are going to recognize there's something different about you, 0:04:31.320 --> 0:04:33.880 and they're going to want what you have. But understand 0:04:33.920 --> 0:04:36.960 this doesn't happen automatically. It's a choice that we have 0:04:37.040 --> 0:04:40.080 to make every single day because we live in a 0:04:40.120 --> 0:04:44.760 society that's very uptight. People today are so stressed out, 0:04:45.240 --> 0:04:48.839 they're worried, they're frustrated, they're on edge, and if we're 0:04:48.880 --> 0:04:53.159 not careful, we'll get sucked into that same mentality. 0:04:52.920 --> 0:04:54.360 Where we don't have any joy. 0:04:54.480 --> 0:04:58.160 We never smile, we never laugh, we're just enduring our 0:04:58.240 --> 0:05:01.760 lives instead of really enjoy in our lives. And much 0:05:01.839 --> 0:05:04.480 of the sickness that's in our world today is a 0:05:04.520 --> 0:05:07.440 result of stress. Much of it is a result of 0:05:07.440 --> 0:05:10.800 people living all pressured and all up tight. Now I 0:05:10.839 --> 0:05:14.640 read where ninety percent of all doctor's visits to a 0:05:14.680 --> 0:05:19.080 primary care physician are stress related. That tells me we're 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:22.080 way too uptight. We don't laugh enough, we don't have 0:05:22.279 --> 0:05:22.880 enough joy. 0:05:23.520 --> 0:05:24.080 We need to. 0:05:24.040 --> 0:05:27.880 Realize that it's healthy to laugh, it's healthy to have 0:05:27.920 --> 0:05:29.039 a good attitude. 0:05:29.560 --> 0:05:32.120 When we laugh, it sends healing through our body. 0:05:32.680 --> 0:05:35.640 Having a joyful attitude is going to keep us strong 0:05:35.800 --> 0:05:38.840 and healthy. But some of you have kind of forgotten 0:05:38.880 --> 0:05:42.039 how to laugh, and you need to retrain yourself to 0:05:42.120 --> 0:05:45.040 see the humor. You need to retrain yourself to have 0:05:45.080 --> 0:05:48.719 fun once again. Now I'm convinced if some of us 0:05:48.880 --> 0:05:51.680 would laugh more, if we would just all smile more, 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:54.640 if we'd be more easy going, we would see more of. 0:05:54.560 --> 0:05:56.080 God's favor in our lives. 0:05:56.720 --> 0:05:59.479 And every day we're going to have opportunities to lose 0:05:59.520 --> 0:06:02.800 our joy. Somebody is rude to you at the office, 0:06:03.040 --> 0:06:05.799 or you can't find your car keys, or maybe your 0:06:05.920 --> 0:06:09.640 child spills something on the carpet. We all have things 0:06:09.760 --> 0:06:13.000 that have the ability to cause stress, but they don't 0:06:13.040 --> 0:06:16.600 necessarily have to. It's all in how we approach our life. 0:06:17.000 --> 0:06:19.080 And I'm asking you to lighten up a little bit 0:06:19.480 --> 0:06:24.400 and not take everything so seriously. Quit getting upset when people. 0:06:24.160 --> 0:06:25.239 Don't do what you want. 0:06:25.880 --> 0:06:29.960 Quit living all frustrated because your plans didn't work out. No, 0:06:30.240 --> 0:06:32.920 just relax and learn to go with the flow and 0:06:33.200 --> 0:06:36.919 to not always be fighting against something. If you don't 0:06:36.960 --> 0:06:40.000 do that, it's gonna keep you all pressured on the inside. 0:06:40.760 --> 0:06:43.039 Some of you today are living with all of this 0:06:43.320 --> 0:06:47.120 internal turmoil, and it's because you're trying to run the world. 0:06:47.600 --> 0:06:50.480 You're not gonna be happy unless everybody in your life 0:06:50.640 --> 0:06:53.480 does exactly what you want, and unless all of your 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:56.440 plans work out the way you planned it. But listen, 0:06:56.520 --> 0:06:59.719 until you change your approach to life, the enemy is 0:06:59.720 --> 0:07:02.160 going to steal your joy day in and day out. 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:06.360 You've got to realize plans don't always work out, people 0:07:06.400 --> 0:07:09.359 don't always do what we want, and every day is 0:07:09.400 --> 0:07:12.120 not going to go just like you scheduled it. We've 0:07:12.120 --> 0:07:14.080 got to learn to just lighten up and go with 0:07:14.160 --> 0:07:17.160 the flow, knowing that God is still in control and 0:07:17.240 --> 0:07:20.800 he's still directing our steps. We should be easy going, 0:07:21.200 --> 0:07:24.440 good natured, and learn to laugh see the humor in 0:07:24.480 --> 0:07:27.640 the different situations of life. I know a while back, 0:07:27.680 --> 0:07:30.280 I was at the airport and I was standing around 0:07:30.320 --> 0:07:32.800 the baggage claim area waiting for our bags to come out, 0:07:33.280 --> 0:07:35.280 and four or five people had come up, and we 0:07:35.360 --> 0:07:37.760 had been talking while we were waiting, and one of 0:07:37.760 --> 0:07:40.800 the first bags that came out was opened. The zipper 0:07:40.840 --> 0:07:43.440 had been broken, and as it went around the baggage 0:07:43.520 --> 0:07:46.280 carousel there, you couldn't help but notice what was in it. 0:07:46.560 --> 0:07:51.440 I mean underwear and socks and pajamas, all these personal items, 0:07:51.600 --> 0:07:54.240 and people kind of chuckled as it went by. Well, 0:07:54.280 --> 0:07:56.400 I was standing a good ways off and I could 0:07:56.440 --> 0:07:58.880 tell that the bag was open, but It wasn't until 0:07:58.880 --> 0:08:01.320 it got closer to me that I realized it was 0:08:01.400 --> 0:08:04.800 my bag, and. 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:07.160 I thought, man, this is embarrassing. 0:08:07.240 --> 0:08:09.480 Not only is my bag all torn up, but now 0:08:09.520 --> 0:08:12.320 the whole world has seen everything that's in it. And 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:14.080 I thought, do I really want to pick up my 0:08:14.160 --> 0:08:17.080 bag or just let it go? But when it got 0:08:17.120 --> 0:08:19.000 to me, I couldn't help it. I got my bag 0:08:19.040 --> 0:08:21.240 and everybody was kidding me, kind of laughing. I mean, 0:08:21.280 --> 0:08:25.400 here's my socks, my underwear hanging out. I just files, 0:08:25.440 --> 0:08:26.440 at least it's all clean. 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:28.920 Do you know what. 0:08:29.080 --> 0:08:31.840 There's no use getting upset about it, no use losing 0:08:31.920 --> 0:08:35.440 my joy. What's done is done, and sometimes the best 0:08:35.440 --> 0:08:37.760 things we can do is just laugh about it and 0:08:37.800 --> 0:08:41.240 move on. Some of you today, every little thing that 0:08:41.280 --> 0:08:43.760 doesn't go your way, you're allowing that to get you 0:08:43.880 --> 0:08:46.720 up tight and stressed out. Man, if you get caught 0:08:46.960 --> 0:08:49.719 in a traffic jam, your blood pressure shoots up. If 0:08:49.720 --> 0:08:51.720 you can't find your car keys in the morning, that 0:08:51.720 --> 0:08:54.480 practically ruins the rest of the day. Or if somebody 0:08:54.520 --> 0:08:57.160 treat you a little rude somewhere had just really sets 0:08:57.200 --> 0:09:00.240 you off. But we have to realize that it's the 0:09:00.400 --> 0:09:03.160 enemy trying to set us up, to get us upset. 0:09:03.760 --> 0:09:06.960 He knows just what buttons to push, he knows what's 0:09:07.000 --> 0:09:10.120 going to steal your joy. I'm challenging you today to 0:09:10.160 --> 0:09:13.280 not take his bait. Don't fall into that trap and 0:09:13.360 --> 0:09:16.400 let him control your life. I love what Jesus said 0:09:16.400 --> 0:09:18.200 here in John fourteen twenty seven. 0:09:18.400 --> 0:09:22.840 He said, stop allowing yourselves to be upset and disturbed. 0:09:23.559 --> 0:09:27.040 In other words, learn to go with the flow, take 0:09:27.160 --> 0:09:30.920 life as it comes, and don't always be fighting against everything. 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:34.760 After all, if we can't do anything about it, what's 0:09:34.760 --> 0:09:38.000 the use in getting all upset. Our attitude should be 0:09:38.640 --> 0:09:41.240 I may not like this, but I can't change it, 0:09:41.360 --> 0:09:44.120 so I'm will be happy anyway. I know God is 0:09:44.160 --> 0:09:47.160 still in control, He's still directing my steps, and I 0:09:47.280 --> 0:09:51.320 refuse to let this adversity get me all upset. See 0:09:51.360 --> 0:09:54.880 the scripture says no man can take your joy, No 0:09:55.080 --> 0:09:58.920 circumstance can take your joy. That simply means you can 0:09:58.920 --> 0:10:01.640 be happy if you want too, but the choice is 0:10:01.679 --> 0:10:05.040 strictly up to you. And some of you are allowing 0:10:05.080 --> 0:10:07.920 other people in your life to steal your joy. A 0:10:08.000 --> 0:10:11.720 family member or maybe somebody you work around. They're always 0:10:11.800 --> 0:10:15.560 negative and discouraged. They've always got that sad report, and 0:10:15.600 --> 0:10:18.320 it seems like every time you're around them, it just 0:10:18.360 --> 0:10:20.640 sucks the life and energy out of you. And you 0:10:20.720 --> 0:10:22.920 feel kind of like it's your duty to cheer them up, 0:10:23.160 --> 0:10:26.199 and it's your responsibility to keep them happy. But no, 0:10:26.360 --> 0:10:29.560 don't let them drag you into their pit. Of course, 0:10:29.600 --> 0:10:31.679 it's good to cheer people up, it's good to be 0:10:31.760 --> 0:10:34.440 an encourager, good to be a friend, but it is 0:10:34.520 --> 0:10:39.280 not your responsibility to keep them happy. And unfortunately, I've 0:10:39.280 --> 0:10:42.000 discovered that some people don't really want to be happy. 0:10:42.520 --> 0:10:45.160 They like walling around in that old pit, and they'll 0:10:45.240 --> 0:10:48.040 drag you down there as long as you allow it. No, 0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:51.199 don't get into the pit with them. Your attitude should 0:10:51.240 --> 0:10:53.360 be If you don't want to be happy, that's fine, 0:10:53.440 --> 0:10:55.719 but you're not gonna keep me from being happy. I'm 0:10:55.760 --> 0:10:58.480 gonna enjoy my life. I'm gonna live each day to 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:01.880 the forum. Friends, go I don't let other people make 0:11:01.960 --> 0:11:05.600 you unhappy. If somebody cuts you off in traffic, just 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:09.000 bless them and move on. Smile at them, but just 0:11:09.080 --> 0:11:12.280 learn to overlook things. Somebody's rude to you at the office, 0:11:12.480 --> 0:11:13.559 shake it off. 0:11:13.320 --> 0:11:16.240 And go on. Don't let that ruin the rest of 0:11:16.280 --> 0:11:16.720 your day. 0:11:17.360 --> 0:11:20.560 If you will keep yourself happy and stay full of joy, 0:11:20.720 --> 0:11:23.400 then God will fight your battles for you. But too 0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:25.960 often we end up making a mountain out of a 0:11:26.000 --> 0:11:28.720 mold hill. We lose our joy if we have to 0:11:28.760 --> 0:11:31.920 work late one night, or if we can't find something 0:11:31.960 --> 0:11:34.240 at the office, or if we go by somebody and 0:11:34.280 --> 0:11:36.680 they don't speak to us. We just get all bent 0:11:36.679 --> 0:11:39.480 out of shape. But no, that's not worth losing. 0:11:39.120 --> 0:11:41.200 Your joy over. Don't make a big deal out of it. 0:11:41.880 --> 0:11:45.320 I know couples that have almost gotten a divorce over 0:11:45.400 --> 0:11:49.560 some little quirky habit. The spouse has little things they 0:11:49.600 --> 0:11:53.200 allowed to irritate them day in and day out. When 0:11:53.200 --> 0:11:56.240 you do that, it'll get bigger and bigger, and before 0:11:56.280 --> 0:11:59.079 long it can cause you major problems. It can cause 0:11:59.120 --> 0:12:01.600 you to have resent in your heart toward that person. 0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:05.760 But we have to realize, especially as couples, that God 0:12:05.840 --> 0:12:08.560 made us different on purpose, and it is not our 0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:11.120 job to try to make the other person just like us. 0:12:11.880 --> 0:12:13.600 I know too many. 0:12:13.040 --> 0:12:16.760 Couples that are living all frustrated because they're constantly trying 0:12:16.760 --> 0:12:20.280 to change the other person, and their attitude is I'm 0:12:20.280 --> 0:12:23.240 going to be happy when my husband changes, or all 0:12:23.360 --> 0:12:26.559 quit being so uptight when my wife changes. But no, 0:12:26.960 --> 0:12:29.760 you know, only God can change people, and why should 0:12:29.800 --> 0:12:32.800 you be unhappy about something that you can't change. Let 0:12:32.880 --> 0:12:36.120 God change your spouse, let God change your child, Let 0:12:36.200 --> 0:12:39.240 God change your boss. And in the meantime, why don't 0:12:39.240 --> 0:12:41.199 you put a smile on your face and starting to 0:12:41.280 --> 0:12:44.240 join your life. Young lady came up to me last 0:12:44.240 --> 0:12:46.600 week and she was real upset. She said, Joe, my 0:12:46.720 --> 0:12:50.480 boss is just not fair. It's politics at my office. 0:12:50.840 --> 0:12:53.520 I'm not getting the credit and the promotions that I deserve. 0:12:53.600 --> 0:12:55.720 And she was really been out of shape about it. 0:12:56.200 --> 0:12:58.800 And I told her basically what I'm telling you today. 0:12:59.200 --> 0:13:01.680 Don't let somebody else steal your joy. 0:13:02.240 --> 0:13:05.320 You cannot make your boss change, You can't make your 0:13:05.360 --> 0:13:08.200 boss do what's right, but you can be happy right 0:13:08.240 --> 0:13:10.640 where you are. You got to put your foot down 0:13:10.880 --> 0:13:12.800 and say, I am sick and tired of losing my 0:13:12.920 --> 0:13:16.000 joy every other day. And I don't care what my boss. 0:13:15.679 --> 0:13:18.559 Does or doesn't do. I'm not working under him. I'm 0:13:18.600 --> 0:13:19.440 working under God. 0:13:19.760 --> 0:13:21.800 And so I'm gonna keep a smile on my face 0:13:22.080 --> 0:13:25.240 and I'm gonna live my life happy knowing that Almighty 0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:27.440 God will make it up to me. And when you 0:13:27.559 --> 0:13:30.560 have that kind of attitude, not only are you gonna 0:13:30.679 --> 0:13:33.520 enjoy your life more, but then God will begin to 0:13:33.559 --> 0:13:36.640 fight your battles for you, and he'll make sure that 0:13:36.679 --> 0:13:38.280 you get everything that you deserve. 0:13:38.880 --> 0:13:41.200 But really, it's all in our approach to life. 0:13:41.640 --> 0:13:44.440 And what I'm saying today is, don't wait for the 0:13:44.480 --> 0:13:45.520 circumstances to. 0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:46.760 Change, you change. 0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:49.439 You be the one to make a decision that you're 0:13:49.480 --> 0:13:51.880 gonna get happy right where you are. I have a 0:13:51.880 --> 0:13:54.800 friend of mine that he's had trouble and difficulties in 0:13:54.840 --> 0:13:57.560 his marriage for many, many years. He and his wife 0:13:57.720 --> 0:14:00.440 just don't see eye to eye on certain issues. In fact, 0:14:00.520 --> 0:14:02.680 she doesn't even come to church with him, and he 0:14:02.800 --> 0:14:05.360 used to really struggle with this. This would really get 0:14:05.400 --> 0:14:07.880 him all down and discouraged. And I saw him the 0:14:07.920 --> 0:14:10.959 other day and ask him how everything was going, and 0:14:11.000 --> 0:14:12.960 he was just very upbeat about it. He said, Joel, 0:14:13.000 --> 0:14:16.720 everything's going great. I'm just really enjoying my life. And 0:14:16.800 --> 0:14:18.720 I thought for sure that he and his wife had 0:14:18.720 --> 0:14:21.120 worked out all those problems and things were going a 0:14:21.160 --> 0:14:22.480 whole lot better, but. 0:14:22.480 --> 0:14:24.160 He said, no, Joel, we still have a. 0:14:24.080 --> 0:14:26.440 Lot of difficulties that we're dealing with, and she still 0:14:26.440 --> 0:14:27.600 doesn't come to church with me. 0:14:28.040 --> 0:14:29.920 But then he said something very interesting. 0:14:29.960 --> 0:14:32.640 He said, you know what, Joel, she hasn't changed, but 0:14:32.760 --> 0:14:35.880 I've changed. I don't let it bother me anymore. I 0:14:35.920 --> 0:14:38.640 don't let it get me upset. And really, that's what 0:14:38.680 --> 0:14:39.840 I'm talking about today. 0:14:40.400 --> 0:14:41.480 Don't let other. 0:14:41.360 --> 0:14:44.280 People keep you from being happy. They may not be 0:14:44.360 --> 0:14:46.760 doing what you want them to do. You may have 0:14:46.840 --> 0:14:49.840 somebody in your family that could irritate you night and 0:14:49.920 --> 0:14:50.800 day if you let it. 0:14:51.160 --> 0:14:53.200 But you need to just make a decision. 0:14:53.240 --> 0:14:55.360 You're going to keep a smile on your face and 0:14:55.520 --> 0:14:56.680 enjoy your life anyway. 0:14:57.080 --> 0:14:58.760 You can't change him, only God can. 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:01.280 So let God do it, and don't make a mountain 0:15:01.320 --> 0:15:04.120 out of a mold hill. I've had people tell me, Joel, 0:15:04.160 --> 0:15:06.040 I just can't get along with my husband. 0:15:06.360 --> 0:15:08.880 He gets on my nerves. We're just incompatible. 0:15:09.280 --> 0:15:11.440 And I asked him what the problem is, and it's 0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:13.280 some very small. 0:15:13.120 --> 0:15:16.280 Little quirky thing. I mean, he doesn't pick his clothes up, 0:15:16.360 --> 0:15:18.480 or he doesn't do this, he does too much of this. 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:22.480 No, we all have little quirky things that can get 0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:25.720 on other people's nerves. But in the big scope of things, 0:15:25.800 --> 0:15:28.160 it doesn't even amount to hill of beans. Why don't 0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:30.840 you quit making a big deal about it. I remember 0:15:30.880 --> 0:15:33.080 when I was in college, there was this young man 0:15:33.160 --> 0:15:35.720 in one of my classes that did something that really 0:15:35.800 --> 0:15:39.720 annoyed me. He smacked his gum instead of just chewing 0:15:39.760 --> 0:15:42.640 gum like normal, he would smack it to where everybody 0:15:42.680 --> 0:15:45.280 around could hear. And I mean it was very loud 0:15:45.440 --> 0:15:48.320 and very annoying, and it just so happened I was 0:15:48.360 --> 0:15:51.280 assigned to sit right next to him, and that used to. 0:15:51.200 --> 0:15:53.360 Really bug me, get on my nerves. 0:15:53.800 --> 0:15:56.160 And some of the other classmates had asked him not 0:15:56.240 --> 0:15:58.480 to do it, and he tried not to, but he. 0:15:58.480 --> 0:15:59.280 Went right back to do it. 0:15:59.320 --> 0:16:01.560 I don't think he really he's doing it, But he 0:16:01.640 --> 0:16:04.240 got to the point where I almost dreaded going to 0:16:04.320 --> 0:16:06.400 that class because I know I was gonna have to 0:16:06.440 --> 0:16:09.360 listen to this guy chump his gum. And one day 0:16:09.400 --> 0:16:13.440 it dawned on me how I was allowing something so trivial, 0:16:13.800 --> 0:16:17.400 something so insignificant, to steal my joy. And all I 0:16:17.440 --> 0:16:20.120 did was simply make a decision that I wasn't gonna 0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:21.280 let it bother me anymore. 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:24.600 I knew I couldn't change him, but I could change me, 0:16:25.120 --> 0:16:27.480 and so I didn't let that upset me anymore. 0:16:28.160 --> 0:16:30.280 And I'm sure some of you have people in your 0:16:30.280 --> 0:16:32.880 life right now that are doing little things that can 0:16:32.920 --> 0:16:33.520 really get. 0:16:33.360 --> 0:16:34.160 On your nerves. 0:16:34.640 --> 0:16:37.280 And the truth is they may not ever change. I 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:40.280 hope they do, but even if they don't, you can 0:16:40.320 --> 0:16:43.240 make a decision like I did, to not allow that 0:16:43.520 --> 0:16:44.600 to steal your joy. 0:16:45.080 --> 0:16:48.160 But really, it's all in how you approach your life. 0:16:48.680 --> 0:16:51.040 And let me tell you, getting stuck in traffic is 0:16:51.080 --> 0:16:53.680 not worth losing your joy over having to work over 0:16:53.720 --> 0:16:56.400 time one night, is not worth getting upset about not 0:16:56.440 --> 0:16:59.120 being able to find the remote control, is not worth 0:16:59.200 --> 0:17:03.480 ruining the rest of your Just relax and stop fighting 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:06.400 against everything that happens to you, and don't let all 0:17:06.440 --> 0:17:10.400 that pressure build up on the inside. I remember Victoria 0:17:10.560 --> 0:17:12.760 used to do something that would really get on my nerves, 0:17:13.040 --> 0:17:15.679 and for years I tried to change her. When she 0:17:15.880 --> 0:17:19.280 drives on the freeway, instead of keeping her car in 0:17:19.359 --> 0:17:22.359 the center of the lane, she lines her right side 0:17:22.400 --> 0:17:25.000 tires up with the right side strife in the road, 0:17:25.480 --> 0:17:27.479 and so instead of being in the middle, she's always 0:17:27.520 --> 0:17:30.320 over to one side. And of course, when I ride 0:17:30.320 --> 0:17:33.000 with her and she's driving, we're on the freeway, it 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:34.960 just so happens that I'm the one closest to the 0:17:35.000 --> 0:17:38.840 other cars. When an eighteen wheeler would go by and 0:17:38.880 --> 0:17:42.320 I could wipe his side mirror for him, I knew 0:17:42.359 --> 0:17:44.639 we were a little too close. That caused me a 0:17:44.640 --> 0:17:48.919 little concerning So for probably ten years, every time I 0:17:49.080 --> 0:17:51.280 rode with her and we were on the freeway, I'd 0:17:51.280 --> 0:17:53.560 get all up tight and I'd go into my two 0:17:53.560 --> 0:17:56.160 minute speech, Victoria, please keep the car in the center 0:17:56.160 --> 0:17:56.800 of the lane. 0:17:57.000 --> 0:18:00.280 It's too dangerous over here. On and on. She was 0:18:00.800 --> 0:18:01.399 very open. 0:18:01.520 --> 0:18:04.520 She would always move She wasn't doing this on purpose. 0:18:04.560 --> 0:18:09.240 I've trained her very well, but she would always move 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:09.680 back over. 0:18:09.760 --> 0:18:12.280 But five minutes later, when she quit thinking about, she'd 0:18:12.280 --> 0:18:13.840 be right back on the right side of the road. 0:18:14.240 --> 0:18:16.600 And so I'd tell her again, Victoria, please go back 0:18:16.600 --> 0:18:20.840 to the center. I would like to see my grandchildren see. 0:18:20.840 --> 0:18:22.200 Really, I was only. 0:18:21.920 --> 0:18:25.119 Focused on that one little quirk, and I used to 0:18:25.119 --> 0:18:27.560 think it was my great calling in life to get 0:18:27.560 --> 0:18:30.200 her straightened out and to make her and to mold 0:18:30.280 --> 0:18:33.080 her into who I wanted her to be. But one 0:18:33.160 --> 0:18:37.000 day I realized I'm not the potter. God is the potter. 0:18:37.080 --> 0:18:39.919 It's not my job to change her. It was like 0:18:39.960 --> 0:18:42.680 a light turned on on the inside and felt God 0:18:42.760 --> 0:18:45.080 speaking to me. He said, Joel, you can get into 0:18:45.080 --> 0:18:47.960 this car until you're eighty years old and try to 0:18:48.040 --> 0:18:49.560 change her, but it's not going to do any good. 0:18:49.920 --> 0:18:52.240 So you can either relax, just go. 0:18:52.160 --> 0:18:54.560 With the flow, take life as it comes, and let 0:18:54.600 --> 0:18:56.639 her be who I made her to be, or you 0:18:56.640 --> 0:19:00.439 can spend your life frustrated and upset trying to change her. Remember, 0:19:00.480 --> 0:19:02.480 I made a decision that very day that. 0:19:02.480 --> 0:19:04.800 I was just gonna leave it alone. It was not 0:19:05.000 --> 0:19:08.240 worth losing my joy over. Really, I was just. 0:19:08.240 --> 0:19:10.760 Making a big deal out of something that wasn't a 0:19:10.800 --> 0:19:14.200 big deal. After all, Victoria has never had an accident before, 0:19:14.520 --> 0:19:18.280 and I've had two. She's never had a ticket and 0:19:18.320 --> 0:19:23.200 I've had a few. But thank God I have been delivered. 0:19:23.280 --> 0:19:26.280 I don't try to change her anymore. I just relaxed 0:19:26.320 --> 0:19:28.639 and let her be who God has called her to be. 0:19:29.640 --> 0:19:30.600 Don't make a big. 0:19:30.440 --> 0:19:33.240 Deal out of something that's not a big deal. Really, 0:19:33.280 --> 0:19:34.960 now when I ride with her, it just makes my 0:19:35.000 --> 0:19:39.040 prayer life stronger. Well, Why don't you too make a 0:19:39.080 --> 0:19:41.360 decision that you are not going to make a big 0:19:41.400 --> 0:19:43.440 deal out of something that's really not a big deal. 0:19:44.119 --> 0:19:46.880 Why don't you not let people steal your joy? Don't 0:19:46.920 --> 0:19:50.159 let your circumstances steal your joy. The scripture says in 0:19:50.200 --> 0:19:54.280 Proverbs fourteen, verse thirty that a relaxed attitude is going 0:19:54.320 --> 0:19:55.320 to lengthen our life. 0:19:55.800 --> 0:19:57.600 But you know, just the opposite is true. 0:19:58.000 --> 0:20:02.080 When we live all up tight on the inside, all 0:20:02.119 --> 0:20:05.399 that's gonna do, medical science tells us is weaken our 0:20:05.400 --> 0:20:08.840 immune system, and we're gonna be much more susceptible to 0:20:08.960 --> 0:20:10.040 sickness and disease. 0:20:10.520 --> 0:20:12.960 Another way you could look at it is every day. 0:20:12.800 --> 0:20:16.600 We live pressured and intense, we are shortening our lives. 0:20:17.080 --> 0:20:20.399 And I'm asking you today to lighten up and not 0:20:20.560 --> 0:20:23.040 let all these things, large or small, to. 0:20:23.040 --> 0:20:23.840 Steal your joy. 0:20:24.440 --> 0:20:24.560 Now. 0:20:24.560 --> 0:20:26.560 I want us to go into this new year with 0:20:26.640 --> 0:20:29.920 a greater determination that we're gonna be happier than we've 0:20:29.960 --> 0:20:30.840 ever been before. 0:20:31.400 --> 0:20:32.200 But some of you. 0:20:32.320 --> 0:20:34.200 Are gonna have to put your foot down and make 0:20:34.240 --> 0:20:37.520 some serious changes because you've gotten into a bad habit 0:20:37.560 --> 0:20:41.000 where everything is so intense and pressured. Everything is just 0:20:41.040 --> 0:20:44.200 a big deal. You never laugh, you never smile. Now 0:20:44.200 --> 0:20:46.639 you're gonna have to draw that line into sand. Your 0:20:46.680 --> 0:20:50.520 attitude should be I refuse to live stressed out. I 0:20:50.560 --> 0:20:53.160 am not gonna get upset when my plans don't work out. 0:20:53.600 --> 0:20:56.000 I'm not gonna get frustrated when people don't do what 0:20:56.119 --> 0:20:58.480 I want them to do. No, from this day forward, 0:20:58.720 --> 0:21:01.880 I'm just gonna relax. I'm gonna take life as it comes, 0:21:01.960 --> 0:21:04.639 and I'm gonna start enjoying my life. And see, we 0:21:04.720 --> 0:21:07.880 got to realize God is in control. He is directing 0:21:07.920 --> 0:21:11.000 our steps. When you get caught by that train, you 0:21:11.040 --> 0:21:14.080 get delayed a few minutes, Instead of getting all upset, 0:21:14.320 --> 0:21:17.000 why don't you think about the fact that just maybe 0:21:17.000 --> 0:21:19.720 God is sparing your life from an accident. You could 0:21:19.720 --> 0:21:21.920 turn it all around and say, Father, I thank you 0:21:21.960 --> 0:21:24.480 that you're in control and that you're a protecting me 0:21:24.520 --> 0:21:27.000 and you got me right where you want me. Or 0:21:27.040 --> 0:21:29.760 maybe when you have to work around that person that's 0:21:29.840 --> 0:21:32.639 kind of irritable, maybe he's got a bad attitude, he 0:21:32.640 --> 0:21:35.199 gets on your nerves. Instead of getting all bent out 0:21:35.240 --> 0:21:37.399 of shape, why don't you think about the fact that 0:21:37.720 --> 0:21:39.400 maybe God has you there so. 0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:41.840 You can be a good influence on him. Why don't 0:21:41.920 --> 0:21:42.240 you just. 0:21:42.240 --> 0:21:45.080 Pray, Father, help me to let my light shine, help 0:21:45.119 --> 0:21:45.679 me to make. 0:21:45.560 --> 0:21:47.280 A good impact in his life. 0:21:47.840 --> 0:21:50.879 What I'm saying is, instead of always trying to change 0:21:50.960 --> 0:21:54.240 everybody and change all your circumstances, why don't you just 0:21:54.280 --> 0:21:56.960 relax and let God change you. Whyon't you make a 0:21:57.000 --> 0:21:59.679 decision that you're gonna keep a smile on your face 0:22:00.040 --> 0:22:02.680 and you're gonna enjoy your life no matter what comes 0:22:02.680 --> 0:22:07.000 your way. Friends, staying full of joy is a powerful weapon. 0:22:07.440 --> 0:22:11.320 Staying full of joy is spiritual warfare. Don't be determined 0:22:11.320 --> 0:22:13.879 that you're never gonna have any problems in life. Be 0:22:14.040 --> 0:22:16.320 determined that you're gonna stay full of joy in the 0:22:16.359 --> 0:22:19.479 midst of your problems. And one reason why it's so 0:22:19.560 --> 0:22:23.840 important that we keep our joy is because when difficulties 0:22:23.880 --> 0:22:27.879 and adversities come, that can be very draining. 0:22:27.480 --> 0:22:28.320 Of our energy. 0:22:28.880 --> 0:22:32.080 Having a child that's not doing right, a rebellious child 0:22:32.440 --> 0:22:34.840 that can take a lot of your energy, Having a 0:22:34.880 --> 0:22:38.520 physical sickness, a financial problem, or just dealing with somebody 0:22:38.520 --> 0:22:39.520 that's irritable all the. 0:22:39.480 --> 0:22:41.600 Time, that can be very draining. 0:22:41.800 --> 0:22:44.480 And if you don't have your joy, you're not gonna 0:22:44.480 --> 0:22:46.800 have the strength you need to really fight the good 0:22:46.800 --> 0:22:50.520 fight of faith. And so often when trouble comes and 0:22:50.600 --> 0:22:53.000 things don't go our way, the very first thing we 0:22:53.080 --> 0:22:56.080 do is get down and discourage God. Why is this 0:22:56.119 --> 0:22:58.800 happening to me? I just don't understand that. I can't 0:22:58.840 --> 0:23:01.800 put up with this anymore. No, in the tough times 0:23:01.800 --> 0:23:04.080 of life, more than ever, we got to dig our 0:23:04.119 --> 0:23:06.720 heels in and make a decision that we're going. 0:23:06.720 --> 0:23:07.560 To keep our joy. 0:23:07.880 --> 0:23:10.400 Because when you have your joy, you're gonna be strong, 0:23:10.880 --> 0:23:14.160 and when you're strong, all the forces of darkness. 0:23:13.800 --> 0:23:15.119 Won't be able to defeat you. 0:23:15.520 --> 0:23:17.920 Now, I'm convinced some of you today you'd see your 0:23:17.960 --> 0:23:21.240 whole situation turn around if you simply get your joy back. 0:23:21.560 --> 0:23:24.199 I believe you'd see new victories. You'd even rise to 0:23:24.280 --> 0:23:27.080 new levels if you just quit living so uptight and 0:23:27.119 --> 0:23:29.480 stressed out when you say joy. You don't know what 0:23:29.560 --> 0:23:32.600 I'm going through. I've got so many problems. My child 0:23:32.680 --> 0:23:35.160 won't do rioter, my health is not very good. I've 0:23:35.160 --> 0:23:38.720 got all this adversity. But really, you more than ever, 0:23:39.040 --> 0:23:42.000 need to keep your joy because the joy. 0:23:41.800 --> 0:23:44.719 Is gonna help you to have the strength. The joy 0:23:44.800 --> 0:23:46.120 will help you to persevere. 0:23:46.480 --> 0:23:48.800 The joy is gonna be a big part of what 0:23:48.880 --> 0:23:50.119 gets us through the difficulty. 0:23:50.359 --> 0:23:53.040 And I love what Hbakuk said. They're in the Old Testament. 0:23:53.240 --> 0:23:56.760 He said, although the fig tree shall not blossom and 0:23:56.800 --> 0:23:59.159 there be no fruit in the vine, yet will I 0:23:59.320 --> 0:24:01.640 rejoy and joy in the God. 0:24:01.400 --> 0:24:02.240 Of my salvation. 0:24:03.119 --> 0:24:06.040 He was saying, in effect, nothing is going right in 0:24:06.080 --> 0:24:09.199 my life right now. My business is going down, my 0:24:09.320 --> 0:24:12.200 crops have failed. But you know what, I'm not gonna 0:24:12.280 --> 0:24:14.640 let that bother me. I'm gonna stay full of joy anyway. 0:24:14.760 --> 0:24:17.959 I'm gonna live my life happy. And really, any of 0:24:18.040 --> 0:24:20.560 us can have a good attitude when everything is going 0:24:20.600 --> 0:24:23.040 our way. Any of us can be happy when we're 0:24:23.040 --> 0:24:26.000 on the mountaintop. But I believe God's looking for people 0:24:26.119 --> 0:24:28.240 that will stay full of joy, even in the valley, 0:24:28.560 --> 0:24:31.000 even in the tough times, even in that midnight hour. 0:24:31.640 --> 0:24:35.359 And I've discovered that people that are consistently full of 0:24:35.440 --> 0:24:38.600 joy are the ones that really live in victory. Don't 0:24:38.600 --> 0:24:41.760 be a yo yo Christian up when your circumstances are up, 0:24:41.840 --> 0:24:44.840 and all stressed out when they're down. No, David said, 0:24:45.119 --> 0:24:47.600 I will bless the Lord at all times, in the 0:24:47.640 --> 0:24:50.120 good times, and in the tough times, when things are 0:24:50.119 --> 0:24:52.160 going my way and when they're not going my way, 0:24:52.560 --> 0:24:55.040 he said, his praise will. 0:24:54.840 --> 0:24:56.480 Continually be in my mouth. 0:24:56.920 --> 0:25:01.280 That's one of the keys to victory, consistency, always staying 0:25:01.320 --> 0:25:03.400 full of joy. And when you have one of those 0:25:03.480 --> 0:25:06.159 days when everything that could go wrong does, one of 0:25:06.200 --> 0:25:08.640 the best things you can do is just laugh. When 0:25:08.680 --> 0:25:11.520 you stay full of joy in the midst of your adversity, 0:25:11.880 --> 0:25:14.760 Really you're giving the enemy a nervous breakdown. 0:25:14.720 --> 0:25:16.320 When he hits you with his best shot. 0:25:16.520 --> 0:25:19.480 He's expecting you to get all negative and sour. But 0:25:19.560 --> 0:25:21.960 he doesn't know what to do with people that just 0:25:22.040 --> 0:25:24.679 shake it off and keep on keeping on. People that 0:25:24.760 --> 0:25:27.280 have a smile on their face day in and day out. 0:25:27.800 --> 0:25:30.360 Maybe somebody's rude to you, you just shake it off 0:25:30.359 --> 0:25:33.160 and smile anyway. Or you get a bad report about 0:25:33.160 --> 0:25:35.440 your health it doesn't look good, you shake it off 0:25:35.520 --> 0:25:37.960 and you've still got to spring in your steath. Or 0:25:38.000 --> 0:25:40.320 you get passed over for promotion, you go through a 0:25:40.359 --> 0:25:43.159 big disappointment, but no, you just shake it off and 0:25:43.200 --> 0:25:45.119 you still stay in that attitude of faith. 0:25:45.920 --> 0:25:47.520 Well, you say, Joel, that seems odd. 0:25:47.560 --> 0:25:50.000 Are you saying we should be happy and full of 0:25:50.119 --> 0:25:52.240 joy even in the midst of our adversities. 0:25:52.600 --> 0:25:55.200 That's exactly what God tells us to do. In the 0:25:55.240 --> 0:25:56.120 Book of Job it. 0:25:56.119 --> 0:26:01.080 Says at destruction and famine, you shall laugh. God is saying, 0:26:01.119 --> 0:26:03.800 even in your dark times, even when everything has come 0:26:03.840 --> 0:26:06.159 against you, if you can get stay full of joy, 0:26:06.600 --> 0:26:09.160 keep a smile on your face, and even learn to laugh, 0:26:09.440 --> 0:26:12.439 then eventually that situation is going to change in your favor. 0:26:13.160 --> 0:26:15.719 Joy is one of the most powerful weapons God has 0:26:15.760 --> 0:26:18.639 given us, and that's why it's so important that we 0:26:18.720 --> 0:26:21.560 not fall into that old trap of living life stressed 0:26:21.560 --> 0:26:24.919 out and upset. Remember a few years ago, I was 0:26:24.960 --> 0:26:27.320 at home working on my computer one day, and I 0:26:27.359 --> 0:26:29.800 had been studying for four or five hours, and I'd 0:26:29.840 --> 0:26:30.680 made several. 0:26:30.400 --> 0:26:31.879 Pages of real good notes. 0:26:32.359 --> 0:26:34.880 But then all of a sudden, the electricity went off 0:26:35.080 --> 0:26:37.800 out of the clear blue it's really sunny outside, and 0:26:37.880 --> 0:26:41.000 normally I'm really good about saving my material, but for 0:26:41.080 --> 0:26:43.760 some reason this day, I didn't save anything. When the 0:26:43.800 --> 0:26:46.040 power came back on, I tried to find it, but 0:26:46.359 --> 0:26:48.879 I couldn't locate it, and so I called the church 0:26:48.920 --> 0:26:52.719 and they sent a technician out and he searched and searched. Finally, 0:26:52.760 --> 0:26:55.280 he just said, Joy, I'm sorry, but it's just not here. 0:26:55.920 --> 0:26:56.120 Man. 0:26:56.160 --> 0:26:57.160 I was disappointed. 0:26:57.600 --> 0:26:59.679 I thought, all this time I've wasted. I had some 0:26:59.720 --> 0:27:01.719 really good notes. How am I ever gonna come up 0:27:01.760 --> 0:27:02.359 with that again? 0:27:02.760 --> 0:27:02.840 Now? 0:27:02.880 --> 0:27:05.520 It's so tempted to just lose my joy and sit 0:27:05.560 --> 0:27:08.360 around kind of having a pity party, feeling sorry for myself. 0:27:08.840 --> 0:27:10.960 But no, I made a decision right then and there 0:27:11.280 --> 0:27:13.800 that I wasn't gonna let that computer still my joy. 0:27:14.320 --> 0:27:16.600 Wasn't gonna let the electric company still my joy, wasn't 0:27:16.600 --> 0:27:18.200 gonna let the enemy still my joy. 0:27:18.600 --> 0:27:20.240 And I went back in there and sat down at 0:27:20.280 --> 0:27:20.840 my computer. 0:27:21.240 --> 0:27:23.960 My attitude was, God's gonna give me better notes. I'm 0:27:23.960 --> 0:27:26.679 gonna have a stronger annoying. God's gonna make what the 0:27:26.800 --> 0:27:29.000 enemy meant for evil, He's gonna use it for my good. 0:27:29.359 --> 0:27:31.320 And do you know, in less than an hour's time, 0:27:31.720 --> 0:27:33.919 I not only had more notes than before, but I 0:27:33.960 --> 0:27:36.080 did have better notes than I made the first time. 0:27:36.359 --> 0:27:39.800 What am I saying today? Don't let anything take your joy, 0:27:39.840 --> 0:27:43.720 Don't let the circumstances take your joy. Make a decision 0:27:43.840 --> 0:27:46.679 that you're gonna live your life happy. After all, friends, 0:27:46.680 --> 0:27:49.320 we've got so much going for us. Almighty God is 0:27:49.320 --> 0:27:52.800 on our side. He is guiding and directing us. His 0:27:52.960 --> 0:27:56.359 favor surrounds us like a shield. He's making our cooking 0:27:56.440 --> 0:28:00.000 places straight. God says you're more than conquers. He all 0:28:00.000 --> 0:28:02.679 always causes you to try onuph Man, we need to 0:28:02.720 --> 0:28:06.280 shake off this old, negative, defeated mentality and let's start 0:28:06.320 --> 0:28:09.720 tapping into the joy that's on the inside. Remember, the 0:28:09.920 --> 0:28:12.280 joy is what's going to give us the strength. The 0:28:12.400 --> 0:28:15.080 joy is gonna help you to persevere. The joy is 0:28:15.080 --> 0:28:18.760 gonna be what's gonna help you to overcome in every adversity, 0:28:19.280 --> 0:28:22.240 and a relaxed attitude is going to lengthen your life. 0:28:22.760 --> 0:28:23.920 So let me challenge you again. 0:28:23.960 --> 0:28:26.760 If you'll just do your part and not fight against 0:28:26.800 --> 0:28:29.600 everything that comes against you, not live your life all 0:28:29.600 --> 0:28:32.280 stressed out, then I can promise you this. You'll see 0:28:32.280 --> 0:28:34.959 more of God's blessings and favor in your life, and 0:28:35.160 --> 0:28:38.160 I believe you'll experience victories that you've never had before. 0:28:38.200 --> 0:28:38.560 Amen. 0:28:40.720 --> 0:28:43.720 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:43.720 --> 0:28:46.440 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:46.920 --> 0:28:51.160 Would you pray with me? Just say Lord Jesus, I 0:28:51.280 --> 0:28:52.400 repent of my sins. 0:28:53.640 --> 0:28:57.360 Come into my heart. I'll make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:58.640 --> 0:29:01.000 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:29:01.080 --> 0:29:01.920 got born again. 0:29:02.360 --> 0:29:05.680 Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 0:29:05.920 --> 0:29:08.200 He's going to take your places you've never dreamed of. 0:29:09.000 --> 0:29:12.440 Thank you for listening to the joel Ostine podcast. Help 0:29:12.520 --> 0:29:15.240 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:15.320 --> 0:29:19.240 all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 0:29:19.320 --> 0:29:21.000 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:22.280 --> 0:29:24.720 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:24.840 --> 0:29:27.600 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:27.640 --> 0:29:30.720 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 0:29:30.920 --> 0:29:31.880 We're praying for you. 0:29:32.040 --> 0:29:34.480 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:34.560 --> 0:29:35.160 next time. 0:29:43.600 --> 0:29:46.120 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:46.160 --> 0:29:49.719 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:49.800 --> 0:29:52.880 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. 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